The Census Bureau’s childcare statistics in the USA are based on the physical addresses and ZIP codes of childcare providers. Based on these data, the authors grouped providers by census tract and added the total licensed capacity of all locations in each tract. They then combined that data with census estimates of demographic variables such as population density and family income, and maternal labor force participation rates. The methodology and data sources are detailed in the accompanying report.
Costs of center-based childcare providers
The costs of center-based childcare providers in the USA vary from state to state, and in some states, the prices are even higher than the national average. For example, Washington state has higher prices than its neighboring states. In some states, the true cost of providing care is several thousand dollars more than the national average.
In Kentucky, the average cost of center-based childcare for an infant is $595 a month. Similarly, the monthly cost for a four-year-old in Indiana is $796 a month. While this price is relatively low, it remains out of reach for many families. In Kentucky, a family earning the minimum wage of $1,430 per month would spend 12% of their income on infant care.
Childcare costs vary by age, location, and facility. For infants and toddlers, the cost can be as high as $1,099 per month. This price range is higher in large cities. In comparison, costs for preschools and daycares are lower.
Rates of stay-at-home mothers
According to the Pew Research Center, 18% of parents in the USA do not work outside the home. That figure is up from 4% in 1989 and just 7% in 2016. While moms are more likely to stay home to raise their kids, dads are on the rise.
The rates of stay-at-home mothers in the United States have increased by 60 percent since the beginning of the flu pandemic. The increase in the number of parents staying home is a result of a wide variety of factors. The influenza pandemic has affected many aspects of a family’s life.
In 2012, there were 12.2 million stay-at-home parents in the USA. These moms typically spend 18 hours a week caring for their children. This compares with only 11 hours for employed moms. Unpaid labor affects 47 percent of the US GDP and almost half of the GDP in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Impact of COVID-19 shutdowns on child care costs
According to a recent poll conducted by the First Five Years Fund, 46% of parents believe that the current childcare system is not working and should be fixed. Another poll found that 67% of voters consider child care essential and believe that it should receive more federal funding.
The COVID-19 public health crisis is having a significant impact on the USA, with parents, employers, and childcare providers affected. A series of surveys by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation between June and November 2020 will help us better understand how the COVID-19 shutdowns will affect the childcare sector.
Childcare providers and centers already had a tough time meeting demand before the COVID omicron virus outbreak. But this pandemic has made things even worse. Across the country, many providers have ceased operations, leaving parents stranded. In San Diego County, for example, Educational Enrichment Systems, which operates 22 childcare sites, has closed down. The closures followed positive tests and exposures among the company’s staff.